Combined cane and stool



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK BENOIT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

cpoMBlNl-:D CANE AND sTooL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,074, dated November15, 1892. i

Application filed October 2, 1890.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FREDRICK BENOIT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of. Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Camp-Stools, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relatesto the construction of folding camp-stools.

The device is adapted when folded to be used as a cane by combiningtherewith a suitable sheath giving proper length to the device andserving as a handle, thereby adapting the structure to this use.

The nature of the invention is fully d escribed in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the stool when foldedand combined with a sheath, whereby it is converted into a cane, thisfigure being partly in section. Fig. 2 shows the invention as unfoldedand in condition for lse as a camp-stool. Fig. 3 is a partial verticalsection showing the parts spread as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a partialvertical section of the foot with the parts folded. Fig. 5 isa partialvertical section showing the means for attaching the cane-sheath to thestool. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a plan of the jointbetween the body and the seat-braces. Fig. 9 is a vertical section ofthe body, showing the manner of securing the loops to which theseat-braces are hinged. Fig. 10 is a bottom view of that portion of thebody shown at Fig. 9, the outer Sleeve not being shown. Fig. 1l is abottom view in perspective of the central piece of the seat.

In said drawings, A represents the radial Varms forming the seat, and Bthe braces thereof. The arms are hinged to the center piece C. Thiscenter piece is provided with a foursided ange c, located below thebutton-like top of the center piece and slotted, as shown at d, toreceive the loops D, whereby the arms A are hinged to said flange. Thesepivotal joints between the arm and the center piece are by theconstruction shown substantlally covered, so that when extended theclothes of the user will not come in contact therewith. "'lhe arms A arepreferably formed of `metal Serial No. 366,818. (No model.)

strips bent longitudinally to a semicircular form. The braces B arehinged to the outer en ds of the seat-arms at a and may be formed of iatmetal bent to the same form as the arms. They are hinged at their loweror inner ends to wire loops b, secured in the central body of the stool,as hereinafter more fully explained, or to substitutes for saidloops,serving to pivotally join the arms to the body. The seat-arms foldupwardly and unfold downwardly. The center piece is detachable from thebody, so that it may be carried above and both seat-arms and braces beextended vertically their full length and brought together in line withthe body and in very compact form, as illustrated at Fig. l. The centerpiece is further provided with a downwardly-extending tube E, carrying aspringpawl F, working through the slot e of the tube. This cylindricalpart of the center piece is adapted to enter the upper cylinder G,forming part of the body and provided with a slot g at one side, adaptedto receive and engage the pawl F. When the seat-arms are extended, thetube E is forced down into cylinder G until said pawl engages in theslot g and holds the center piece in the proper position to retain thearms extended. To fold the seat, it is merely necessary to press uponthe pawl F with the finger and release it from the slot g, when thecenter piece can be raised the sleeve J, below the block H and integralwith the latter, if that construction is preferred, is a block K,serving as a means for the attachment of the legs L. The blocks H and K,together with the sleeve J are all part of the central body of thestool. The method of attaching the legs L to the body may be varied, andI have only shown one method-wiz., by pivoting, as at k. I preferalso toem ploy springs M, which may be soldered to the body and the legs vandwhich are adapted to retain the legs in their spread or open condition,so that the legs will not collapse by gravity when the stool islifted'from the ground. The legs are IDO each formed of two metal stripsN n, bent longitudinally into concave convex form and placed togetherwith the longitudinal edges of one bent around the like edges of theother, as illustrated at m of Fig. 6. The edges may be brazedtogether,and the lapping of oneedge around the other may perhaps in thatcase be storage-room to the binding-Wires O, herein-` after to bedescribed.

To limit the spread of the legs, I provide each of them with a bindingor bracing Wire O, preferably doubled upon itself, so as to form a loop,as shown more particularly at Fig. 7, said Wire being pivotally join edto a central socket-piece or foot P at p. Each leg is provided with aretaining-wire o,which passes through the loop ofthe retaining-wire Oand prevents its becoming detached from the leg. Being pivotally joinedto the socket-piece the binding-Wires are easilyslid intothe interior ofthe leg by simply lifting the stool and bringing the binding-Wire andleg into line. When thus positioned, the legs are brought closelytogether, as already described, and the bindingwires are entirelyconcealed, as illustrated at Fig. Ll. rlhe socket-piece P carries aslotted exterior sleeve Q, extending a short distance above the pivotsp, thereby forming at the up- `per end of the socket-piece a receptacleor socket for the lower extremities of the legs. This feature enablesthe feet of the legs to enter sufficiently far in the socket-piece tocover the pivots p when the stool is collapsed. The socket-piecepreferably carries, also, a rubber block q, and its construction in thisrespect, as Well as others already mentioned, adapts it to serve as afoot for the stool when collapsed into the form of a cane.

To further adapt the collapsed stool to be carried as a cane, I providea sheath R, having an appropriate handle r, the sheath being adapted tobe slipped over the seat portion of the stool and also, preferably, overthe upper portion of the legs, as shown at Fig. 1. The sheath is thusmade to cover all the joints of the seat portions and also the jointbetween the legs and the body. Any simple lock may be employed to holdthe sheath upon the stool, such as the spring-pawl S, se-

cured to the inside of one of the legs and projecting through a slottherein into arecess in the sheath and also provided with a boss s, alsoprojecting through an opening in the leg for use in releasing the paWl.

The seat-arms may, if desired, be provided With a canvas cover; but Ihave not shown that feature, as it constitutes no part of the inventionsought to be protected in this application, The binder or brace Wiresand socket-piece are very serviceable in preventing the sinking of thelegs into soft ground, so that the stool is capable of use under allusual conditions. The socket-piece and the binding-Wires can be drawnfrom the legs without touching the socket-piece with the hands byplacing the socket-piece between the feet and pulling upon the upperpart of the device. This is a feature of benefit, as the socket-piece isapt to be covered with dirt after using the stool as a cane. The jointsbetween the socket-arms and braces may be formed by slotting the ends ofone and hooking the end of the other through the slot, as Will bereadily understood.

I claiml. In a camp-stool, the combination of hollow folding legs, afoot-piece, and bracing- Wires flexibly joined to the foot-piece andadapted to telescope into said legs, substantially as set forth.

2. In a camp-stool, the combination of hollow folding legs, afoot-piece, and bracingwires flexibly joined to the foot-piece andadapted to telescope into said legs, said Wires being locked to thelegs, so that they cannot be detached therefrom, substantially as setforth.

3. In a camp-stool, the combination, with the hollow folding legs, ofthe bracing-Wires sliding in the legs and made in the form of loops andfastened to the legs by retainingwires o, substantially as set forth.

4c. In a camp-stool, the combination of hollow folding legs,bracing-Wires adapted to telescope into and be concealed by said legsand also adapted to swing upon the legs when drawn .out of the same, anda socket-piece to which the bracing-Wires are hinged and which serves asa means of union for said Wires, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the folding legs and bracing-Wires, of thesocket or foot piece to which the bracing-wires are pivoted and which isalso adapted to receive the lower ends of the legs when folded,substantially as set forth.

6. In afolding stool, a movable center piece resting upon the body andsupported both vertically and laterally thereby While being used as aseat, hinged seat-arms radiating from said center piece, and braces forsaid arms hinged to the arms and to the body, in combination with thebody, the latter being extended upwardly to support the seat,substantially as specified.

7. In a folding stool, a movable center piece, hinged seat-armsradiating from said center piece, and braces for said seat-arms, incombination with the body of the stool, adapted to support and sustainsaid center piece when the seat is unfolded and also to support saidbraces, and a releasable lock for securing the center piece to thebody,substantially as set forth.

8. In a folding stool, a series of npwardly- ICO IIC

bination with a, central body or support upon which the center piece ofthe seat may rest and to which it may be locked against up- Wardmovement While the seat is being used, substantially as set forth.

9. In a. folding stool, the combination of a series of hollow legs and aseries of bracing- Wires for limiting their spread, the latter beingcapable of telescoping into the legs and being also hinged to them, sothat they may ro be brought into line therewith, substantially as setforth. v

FREDRICK BENOIT. Witnesses:

EDW. S. EVARTS, H. M. MUNDAY.

